Dingle, Ireland

Dingle is a quaint little tourist town on the Dingle Peninsula, just over an hour west of Killarney. The scenic ocean views are what draw people to this quiet Irish peninsula. Well that or the resident dolphin Fungi, who frequents the Dingle harbour and probably funds half the population of Dingle. Though it is a little off the main tourist trail, Dingle is still heavily commercialized. However, make sure to head over to this part of the country, take a quick stop in the coastal town, then head out to explore the rest of the peninsula. Plus, it’s just fun to say you’ve visited a town called Dingle!

How to Get There

Dingle is just over an hour west of Killarney, taking the R561 highway.

What to Do

Lighthouse Walk – We parked at a little beach just before entering Dingle and discovered a trail to the lighthouse. The lighthouse itself isn’t all that spectacular, but the walk along the cliffs is pretty amazing. Keep your eyes open for this unmarked gem! The trail meets up with a road again at the “Fungi Viewing Point”, and we were lucky enough to see Fungi a bunch of times as he swam around the harbour. Tons of fishermen offer guaranteed Fungi sightings from their boats for a price, but we had a great view and didn’t pay a cent.Along the way you stumble across a cool ruin too (surprise, surprise!). None of these spots are labelled or signed, but our screenshot of MapsMe should help you find your way. The starred spot in the bottom right is the beach we started at, the trail is marked with the dotted line, and the lighthouse and Fungi viewing point are labelled. The starred spot in the top left is Dingle.

Walk around Town – There are a bunch of shops and pubs in the center of town, as there are in most Irish tourist towns. Dingle is unique because the main street is so colourful! Every shop is painted a different vibrant shade of every colour in the rainbow.

Inch Beach – We passed Inch Beach on our way into Dingle, and it frankly surprised us. You don’t really think of beaches when you think of Ireland. It’s a hotspot for surfing lessons, and just for taking a stroll down the 5 kilometers of sand and dunes.

What to Eat

Danno’s – This small restaurant is tucked in an alley, and provided a warm welcoming vibe. Almost like you were visiting a friends house for dinner, probably because it must have once been a house before it was converted into a restaurant. We got some great seafood, and there were some good craft beers on tap.

Murphy’s Ice Cream – Founded in Dingle, this ice cream store carries some obscure flavours that’ll hit the spot. We tried the sea salt and Dingle gin flavours and they didn’t disappoint! Though it is a little expensive, 4.5 euros for a small. But how do you say no to local ice cream?